AY Honors/Trees/Answer Key

1. Describe the ways in which trees and shrubs differ.

Trees are generally taller than shrubs and have a main trunk from which all the secondary branches grow. Shrubs are generally shorter and may have multiple stems rather than a single trunk. Some plants can be considered either shrubs or trees depending on their growing conditions, so the division should not be considered exact.

3. Name two examples each of trees that have been named for:

a. What they are used for

b. The surroundings or environment in which they grow

c. Some distinctive feature

d. The geographic region in which they live

e. Persons who first found and described them

6. Name several examples of the kinds of wood used in each of the following:

a. Flooring for houses

Oak, maple, pine.

b. Common plywood

Pine, fir, spruce

c. Furniture

Walnut, oak, cherry, maple, pine

d. Ax handles

Hickory, ash

e. Fence posts

Locust, cedar, redwood, fir (treated)

f. Railroad ties

Hardwoods and softwoods.

g. Support beams for construction work

Oak, hickory, ash

h. Bows and arrows

Osage orange and elm for bows. Cedar, spruce, and fir for arrows

i. Ideal for use as kindling

Softwoods such as pine and cedar.

j. Burns slowly and leaves a bed of hot coals

Hardwoods, especially hickory and mesquite.

7. Name two examples each of trees which:

a. Grow best in wet lands

Bald Cypress, Sycamore, Willow, Swamp White Oak, Swamp Chestnut Oak, Overcup Oak, Tupelo Gum and Cottonwood.

b. Grow best at high levels in mountains

Larch, Bristlecone Pine (and may other pines), Birch, and Beech.